In Bravo’s first original scripted series, Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, Lisa Edelstein plays self-help author Abby McCarthy, who writes books about relationships. Her character lays one on us when she confesses that all is not sublime in her perfect world, and that she’s—OH NO—actually separated from her husband.

The day after her real marriage to artist Robert Russell in May of last year, Lisa was off to start production of the new show about divorce that’s scoring high with Bravo’s viewers. She told the New York Daily News in December that “Abby is smart, sexy, tough and vulnerable — and she’s a woman my age.”

For most of us, Lisa will forever be the doctor, Lisa Cuddy that is, from seven seasons on the hit medical drama House, but she’s done much more. We saw her in arcs on The Good Wife and House of Lies and as a guest star on Elementary and Scandal. She played edgy roles on The West Wing, Ally McBeal, and Relativity. Lisa, who’s also a successful voiceover talent, appeared in films including Keeping the Faith, What Women Want, Daddy Day Care and As Good As It Gets. She’s an accomplished stage performer and on the philanthropy side, an animal advocate (Thanks, Lisa!). And she’s really funny.

By the time you finish this, you’ll be heading to your bathroom sink to grab the antibacterial soap.

How do you Mind Your Body with what you eat? Are you still vegetarian and why?I am a vegetarian. I’ve been a vegetarian for 33 years. I think I’ve been a vegetarian since Methuselah was born. It’s important to me to eat quality, clean food that makes me feel healthy. This makes me a terrible dinner date. There are very few restaurants where I feel better when I leave then when I arrived. But I love cooking for people and I love feeding people delicious food that’s good for them. My friends come here and know they aren’t going to leave hating themselves, but that they will be full and happy.

About exercise: You practice yoga. What does it do for you now? Do you do anything else for physical activity?I used to have a very athletic yoga practice and I loved doing challenging poses and pushing myself. Now I look to yoga for a more meditative connection with breath and movement and get my strength and cardio exercise elsewhere. I ride bikes, climb stairs, hike, do light weight exercises, jump rope—whatever the mood bears. When I’m working really hard I tend to keep my routine to about a half an hour of intense work, switching between a few minutes of full body cardio and then smaller, more localized exercises. That way I’ve pushed my body, but left good energy for the 16-hour workday ahead of me.

You’re a believer in discipline. Do you think you have enough?Oh, who knows? I think I’m pretty disciplined compared to some, but I certainly know people who have greater focus then I do. It’s relative, I suppose. I’m definitely a creature of habit. I have a pot of yerba mate every morning. Then I write in my journal, for example. It’s not because I’m disciplined as much as it is that I enjoy the ritual. It’s my way of waking up. I love to exercise because it makes me feel good, and there’s a physical and emotional payback. But I could be doing more. I can always find areas where I see there’s more to be done.

What’s it done for your career?There is another kind of discipline that I think is important for any career, and that’s making disciplined choices. I’m certainly not perfect at it, and choices are of course limited to opportunity, but I’ve always believed that it’s important to say ‘no’ when it’s not the direction you want to go in. ‘A job is a job’ is not my attitude (except in cases of extreme need). We work hard to be where we are at and it’s just as important to work hard as it is to curate what you work hard at. Then you can create the future that will make you happy.

What’s your worst health habit—one you’d like to ditch for good?I have no idea how to answer that. It’s not that I’m trying to hide it from you, I just really can’t think of anything right now. But I’m sure there is something I do behind my own back. Next time, when I catch myself, I’ll send you an email update.

How do you feel about aging in Hollywood and how are you facing up to it? (Beautifully!)Aging is aging no matter where you are doing it. I suppose the only difference in our case is that we do it in front of a camera. High definition has been a challenge for lighting departments and actors alike. There are many things you see on hi-def that you don’t really notice with the naked eye. In essence, that makes us age before our time. Fine lines appear on camera that aren’t really noticeable in person. I think this can make people crazy. Beyond that, I think seeing the changes on your face or body is the same for everyone. In an actor’s life, a few more hundred thousand people have opinions about it.

Your father is a doctor. What’s the most important thing he taught you about health?Don’t use antibiotics unless you absolutely have to.

What real, useful health lesson have you incorporated into your own life after playing a doctor on House?Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands. But that’s not because I was on House. It’s just because you should wash your hands.

You’re a big animal supporter, and I am, too. Why do you commit such great energy to this work?I’ve just always felt very strongly about it. Animals have no voice to protest with. They have limited ability to navigate the world we’ve created around them and they rely on us. It’s important to me to be conscious of that, and to remind others to do the same.

What do you love about your current show?The show is smart, raw, hilarious and it generates conversations. I love hearing people talk about their own lives after seeing an episode. I love that it becomes personal.

Share one particular lesson you’d like women who are getting divorced to take away—seriously now.Well, that would be hard to say since I’m not divorced, I’m only fictionally divorcing. That would be like me giving you medical advice after playing a doctor on TV. Because then I might accidentally cause your death, which would be terrible. Although you should still wash your hands. I stand by that.

Stephanie Stephens, M.A. thinks “It’s About Time” we did the things we want to if we’re age 45+. Within reason, of course. She writes, produces, and hosts her multimedia channel, Mind Your Body TV, featuring timely health and lifestyle blogs, podcasts, and videos—also seen on YouTube and syndicated by AOL/On.

AMG/Parade Digital

Connect With Us

More from AMG/Parade

Our partners

Your use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance
of our User Agreement,
Privacy Policy,
Cookie Notification,
and awareness of the California Privacy Rights.
Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal
and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced,
distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used,
without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Media Group.
Ad Choices